On: Microsoft built its own custom Linux kernel for it...

[duxup]

I can't monitor you or turn your light switch into a "service" that involves reoccurring payments if we don't use the internet to connect.... /s

[bsder → duxup]

And you also can't get a security update when someone figures out how to turn your lightbulbs into a botnet.

[jessaustin → bsder]

Botnets are so passé. Nowadays, everything pwned is mining! Now your lightbulb will produce as much heat as it did back when it was incandescent!

[shawnz → jessaustin]

I wonder if there's any money to be made in an electric heating company that installs bitcoin miners in your home instead of heating coils.

[Sebguer → shawnz]

https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/08/qarnot-unveils-a-cryptocur...

[shawnz → Sebguer]

Nice, although IMO they've got it wrong: They should keep the coins and lease the units at a lower price than traditional systems of a comparable wattage.

[jamiek88 → bsder]

If it's not on the internet it can't become part of a botnet.

You lose functionality though, like being able to check doors etc. remotely.

I trust Apple and I trust Homekit so I'm not too concerned with that.

[TeMPOraL → jamiek88]

> You lose functionality though, like being able to check doors etc. remotely.

You don't. That's what VPNs are for.

[icebraining → TeMPOraL]

What kind of VPN? If you mean using the router to connect the LAN to a VPN, then this[1] report should put to rest the idea that they are trustworthy.

If it's an end-to-end VPN, it's doubtful most of these devices have the power to run a client.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16847716

[koffiezet → TeMPOraL]

That's nice for techies, but I'd love to see you explain that to my mom...

[dcow → jamiek88]

Why can't you have both?

[TeMPOraL → bsder]

And I can't also get bullshit "feature" updates, and my device can't be remotely bricked, and it doesn't need the mothership servers to be up - so again, my device won't die when the company gets acquihired, stops pretending to provide value and pivots to writing blogposts about their incredible journey.

[dcow → bsder]

It's not either/or. Something can contact an update server but otherwise function entirely local.

[duxup → bsder]

The status quo seems to already be devices on the internet that can be updated.... but are still apart of a botnet.